2009 Penn State Season Preview (Part One)

FUN FACTS

1) The Zips gave up 31.3 points per game in 2008, making this game an excellent season opener for Penn State state's offense.

2) Penn State has won seven straight season openers, and has defeated Akron twice in that span. The combined scores of those games was 82-26 in favor of Penn State.

3) Akron is 1-18 vs. Big Ten teams all-time, and is also 12-21 on the road. They are 2-10 against BCS teams.

This game will give Penn State an excellent opportunity to get in a rhythm offensively, while their defense will be be tested just enough to make them better. Expect Daryll Clark to step up even more this season and be one of the top QBS in the Big Ten again.

Penn State 41, Akron 17

MORE FUN FACTS

1) Penn State has won 22 of it's last 25 meetings with Syracuse.

2) Penn State had 26 first downs, whereas The Orange had only 8! Penn State also had 560 yards of offense en route to a 55-13 victory. Syracuse was limited to159 yards of offense in the game.

3) Syracuse is 2-9 on the road over the past 5 seasons (non-conference). ND, Northwesten, Iowa, Miami (OH), Wake Forest, Illinois, Purdue, and Florida State have all defeated Syracuse away from the Carrier Dome.

This game isn't shaping up much differently then last years game/ throttling, and unless Greg Paulus pulls the biggest upset since Rocky Balboa...expect Penn State to dominate.

Penn State 45, Syracuse 14

MORE FUNNER FACTS

1) Penn State had 546 yards and 27 First Downs in 2008, winning 45-3. Temple was held to 138 yards and 10 FDS.

2) Penn State has beat Temple three years in a row by a combined score of 123-3. Thus proving my theory that Penn State dominates Temple. It's just a theory...

3) Temple hasn't beaten The Nittany Lions since 1941, and I don't expect them to anytime soon.

Penn State 38, Temple 7

EVEN MORE FUNNER FACTS

1) Penn State is 1-6 against Iowa since 2000.

2) Penn State won the total yards last year by 289-272, and the time of possession 35:52 to 24:08. They also recorded more first downs 24-19.

3) All but one victory by Iowa in this series have been decided by seven points or less since 2000.

This game should be a close contest as was last year when Iowa won the game by one point with one second left on the clock. This year they play in Happy Valley, and Penn State should take advantage of their home field.

Penn State 28, Iowa 24 Penn State's Record: 4-0

MOST FUNNEST FACTS

1) Penn State is 13-3 vs. Illinois all-time, including last year's 38-24 triumph in which Penn State won in almost every major category.

2) Derrick Williams had 241 All-Purpose yards in 2008's game, and scored three touchdowns total. Williams has since graduated, and been drafted into the NFL.

3) Illinois 372 yards was the most Penn State's defense gave up in of last season, again displaying Illinois ability to move the ball.

A couple things to keep in mind is that Illinois returns all of it's key playmakers on offense, while also getting new additions. While last years game was at Penn St. this year is a different story.

Penn State is a good team, and a conference championship competitor, however I don't see them defeating Iowa and Illinois back to back games.

Illinois 35, Penn State 31 Record: 4-1

JUST FACTS

1) EIU only average 303 yards of offense per game in 2008, as an FCS team.

2) Penn State doesn't lose to FCS teams any year, especially not in 2009.

And that's it...

Penn State 55, Eastern Illinois 3